Abstract
Film is a visual medium through which depictions of normative sexuality can be challenged (Kunsey, 2019; Ngidi & Dlamini, 2017; Ramrao, 2016). The film Moffie [faggot or sissy], released in September 2019 (Hermanus, 2019), utilised visual media to portray a rendition of forced military conscription in South Africa during apartheid. In present-day post-apartheid South Africa, homophobic crimes continue to be the headline of news reports (Assunção, 2021; Gevisser, 2021; Mkhize, 2019; Siyo & Mkentane, 2021). These reports are a testament to the fact that there is a need for diverse depictions of sexual and gender variance as these insights could disrupt dominant heteronormative gendered embodiments of sexuality. The question remains: what motifs will emerge from the viewer’s social media comments in response to the film Moffie (Hermanus, 2019)? In order to answer this question, the research aimed to analyse viewer comments on the film Moffie (Hermanus, 2019) that were posted on online public platforms. A thematic analysis was then conducted to uncover the major patterns inherent in these public comments. Based on this analysis, three major themes emerged: homophobia, resistance, and institutionalised sexuality. Major themes one and two were broken down into several sub-themes. The first major theme, homophobia, included the following sub-themes: homophobic experiences, aspersion, and sympathy. The second major theme, resistance, included the following sub-themes: defying homonegativity and addressing discrimination.
Word Count: 222
Keywords: Queer Theory; Sexuality; Gender; Film; Military; Viewer comments.